Television Event

To win the ratings war, they must end the Cold War

An archive-based feature documentary viewing the dramatic climax of the Cold War through the lens of the ABC network, as it narrowly succeeds in producing the most watched, most controversial made-for-TV movie, THE DAY AFTER (1983). With irreverent humor and sobering apocalyptic vision, this film reveals how a commercial broadcaster seized a moment of unprecedented television viewership, made an emotional connection with an audience of over 100 million and forced an urgent conversation with the US President on how to collectively confront and resolve the most pressing issue of the time - nuclear proliferation.

Cast

Nicholas Meyer

Self

Robert Papazian

Self

Edward Hume

Self

Brandon Stoddard

Self

Stephanie Austin

Self

Stu Samuels

Self

Ellen Anthony

Self

Ted Koppel

Self

Ronald Reagan

Self (archive footage)